Correlation and factor analyses of quantitative traits in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)

Improvement of new rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) cultivars requires efficient tools to monitor trait relationship in a breeding program. Twenty rapeseed genotypes including 4 cultivars and 16 advanced lines were evaluated based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Significant genotypes effect were exhibited for phenological traits, plant height, seed yield and yield components except seeds per pod. High broad sense heritability estimates for phenological traits, plant height, pods per plant, 1000-seed weight and seed indicating selection gain for improving these traits will be high. Days to maturity had low value of genetic coefficient of variation and therefore for improving this trait, the correlated traits viz. days to flowering and days to end of flowering can be used. The results of factor analysis revealed three factors including fixed capital factor (phenological traits), sink factor (pod per plant, seeds per pod and seed yield) and secondary yield components (pods per main axis and 1000-seed weight) for 10 studied traits. On the basis of scattering of the genotypes based on their scores for three factors, the genotypes G19, G18, G15, G10, G8 and G4 were classified as the same group and all of these had high seed yield. Scattering of genotypes based on their scores for related factors can be used as suitable method for grouping and classifying the genotypes for more important yield associated traitsFull text: 3 Final with ISSN.pdf